Hollow building block



Jan. 8, 1946. J. ROE

HOLLOW BUILDING BLOCK Filed May 10, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 8, 1946.-:.ROE 2,392,552

HOLLOW BUILDING BLOCK Filed May 10, 1943 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 Patented Jan.8, 1946 i assassz HOLLOW BUILDING BLOCK James Roe, Chicago, Ill.,assignor of one-half to Albert Ka hn, Chicago,` Ill. 1

Application May v10, 1943, Serial No. 486,356

8 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of constructing walls of buildings andthe like, and is particularly concerned with an improvement in theconstruction of hollow tiles or building units for the formation ofbuilding walls.`

While the tiles or hollow blocks of the present invention may be usedfor many purposes, it is an object of the present invention to provide aconstruction unit which' is applicable for exterior walls of a building'and which vis particularly applicable for partition Walls of al1 typesof buildings, and which construction unit shall be of a minimum weightfor the purpose. The building unit of the present invention is hollowand preferably,A although not necessarily, of a generally rectangularshape.

It is a further object of th'e present invention to provide a buildingunit of such a shape that it caribe formed by extrusion whereby it maybe manufactured in any lengths desired. Standard types 'of joints,cornersvand other fittings are provided for attachment to the buildinglunit. The building unit itself is preferably made of such material thatmay be sawed on the job to the requisite length, if it is necessary toreduce the length of a unit.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the unit isl madeof non-hygroscopic plastic, which may be cut by an ordinary sawingoperation, similar to the way in which wood is cut.v Any suitablethermo-plastic, thermo-setting, or synthetic resin material, having thedesired strength, durability, weather resisting properties, heat andfire resisting properties, and aesthetic appearance may be used. Thewalls of 'the hollow unit may be made very thin where the unit does nothave to support any substantial load. If the unit is to be used in abuilding wall that is subjected to appreciable compressive loads thenthe unit may be provided on the inside with' one or more stifiening orload sustaining members which will carry the load to which the unit issubjected.

The tting elements, joints and the like, are preferably attached to thebody element by means of a sleeve that extends into and ts snugly withinthe main bodyelement. Where the plasticelement is a thermo-plasticmaterial the joints may be permanently locked together by weldingyas byapplying heat to force some of the material of the body element intorecesses provided therefor in the sleeve.

The attainment of the above and further objects of the present inventionwill be apparent from the following specication taken in con- Figure 2is a perspective'viewpof a building unit of the present invention,joined at one end to a window jamb;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a coupling or joining element;

Figure 4 is'a transverse sectional view taken along the line 4-4 ofFigure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a perspective View of a building unit of the presentinvention with a joining element secured in one end thereof:

Figure 6 is a `perspective view of a corner fitting for use with thebuilding element of the present invention;

Figure 7 is a sectional view of a unit of the present invention andillustrating the manner of positioning the reenforcing elements inplace;

Figure 8 is a sectional view through a modi'- fied corner elementjoining units of the present invention; and l Figure 9 is a transversesectional view of a. building element for use on cornices or the like.

Reference may now be had more particularly to the accompanying drawingsin which the same reference numerals designate the same parts in all theviews.`

In carrying out the present invention there are a number of elements orunits necessary for the construction of the desired walls. Theseelements consist essentially of the hollow tiles or building blockswhich constitute the main part of the building wall, the couplingelements for coupling adjacent building blocks, corner elements, and theelements used at window jarnbs and the like. By having a supply of theseelements or units various combinations may be used to effect the desiredconstruction.

The body lelements are extruded from nonhyg'roscopic plastic materialsand the joints or coupling elements may be` cast or molded from likematerials.

The wall i of Figure 1 is formed of a plurality of superimposed h'ollowrectangular building elements or blocks 2 joined by joints or couplings3. A window jamb is indicated at 4, said jamb being secured in place byrabbeted iittings 5 that t `into the ends of the building elements 2.

Each hollow building element 2 is in the form of a tube of rectangularcross section andis, op-

tionally, provided with trussed stiifening and l load sustainingelements 1. Each stiifening eleone corner to the opposite cornerthereof. A hub 9 having an opening I0 is formed at the center orintersection vof the truss members 8 for a purpose'which will beapparent .as this description proceeds. On the outer surface of each oneof three or four sides of the load sustaining element 1 two depressionsI 2-I2 are formed. These depressions may be circular in shape and areprovided merely to facilitate forming a lock 'between the loadsustaining element and the hollow building element. After the trussmember 1 has been positioned within the rectangular hollow buildingelement a vhot tool is pressed on the outer surface of the buildingelement 2 opposite each of the depressions I2, to heat the adjacentplastic material to a temperature suilicient to soften it and to forcesome of it to protrude into the depressions I 2; The load sustainingelement 1 is thus locked in position within' the rectangular buildingelement by the protuberances extending into the depressions I2. 'I'hisinterlocking arrangement is omitted on at least one surface of thebuilding element, which surface is to be on the exposed side of thefinished wall. If desired these interlocking projections may be lomittedon two opposite surfaces of the block element 2, especially where the4tile or building element is to be built into a wall, such as a partitionwall, where opposite surfaces of the building element of the wall areexposed. Ihe load sustaining element 1, as previously stated, may bemade of plastic, although it is within the purview of the presentinvention to use other materials, such as steel, where a much greaterstrength is required.

Figure 3 shows a coupling element 3. The

coupling element is of a generally hollow rectangular shape, trussed asare the load sustaining elements 1, and of outside dimensions such as toenable it to fit snugly into the end of a building element 2. Acentrally located peripherally extending flange l5 limits lthe extent towhich the coupling element or joint may be inserted into the buildingelement. This ange extends from the outer surface i6 of the joint anamount equal to the thickness of the wall of the building element 2, orit may extend outwardly a slightly lesser Aamount where it is desired toproduce a slight recess at each joint in a course or row on thebuilding. I'he coupling element is also a load sustaining member and maybe made of the same plastic material as are the building elements 2 or,where a greater strength is desired, it may -be made of other materials,such as steel.

As shown in Figure l, the stiffening or'load sustaining elements 1 ofthe various building elements in any one course, and the joints 3, whichalso act as load sustaining members, are all in vertical alignment withthe corresponding load sustaining elements of the other courses. As aresult, if any appreciable vertical dead load is -to be placed on thewall it is placed in such positions as to be immediately over verticallyaligned 3rovv's. of stiifening or load sustaining elements When thebuilding element 2 is to be used for forming partition walls, which arenot subjected to any appreciable vertical load, the load sustainingelements 1 may be omitted.

' Each rabbeted fitting 5 is preferably made of plastic, asis theelement 2. I'he fitting 5 consists of a solid rectangular plastic block20 having a vertically extending channel 2| formed therein for receivinga window sash 22 and having a rearwardly extending rectangular sleeve 23integral therewith which fits snugly within the hollow building element.The outside dimensions of the rectangular rabbeted fitting 5 are thesame as the outside rectangular dimensions of a building element 2.

Figure 6 shows a corner element. This corner element is a molded or casthollow plastic boxlike structure having rectangular sleeves 3 I-SIintegral therewith. These sleeves fit snugly within the hollowrectangular building elements 2. The length, width and height ofthe part30 of the corner element are such as to cause its surfaces to lie flushwith the adjacent surfaces of building elements 2 joined thereby.

In the forming of a wall, as shown in Figure 1, the joints betweenadjacent elements 2 in a given row are, preferably, cemented together,as by coating the sleeve i6 of each coupling element with a plasticcement immediately before the sleeve is inserted into the buildingelement 2. Likewise, the sleevetl of each corner element is coated witha plastic cement immediately before the sleeve is inserted into abuilding element-2. Also, if desired, the top surface of each buildingelement 2 may be coated with a plastic cement immediately before anotherelement is laid thereupon.

While I have shown the top and bottom outer surfaces of the element 2 asperfectly fiat, this is not an indispensable part of the presentinvention. For instance, the top surface of the element 2 may beprovided with a longitudinally extending ridge or projection, and thebottom surface may be provided with a similarly located longitudinallyextending groove of a size adapted to receive the projection of thesubjacent tile or element, in the manner shown in my pending applicationentitled, Hollow insulating building block, filed of even date herewith,to which reference may be had. A

Reference may now be had to Figure 7 which shows one manner of insertingtwo or more load sustaining elements 1 into a preformed buildingconstruction, except that the central openings` I0 of the respectiveload sustaining elements are of different diameters, that of' theelement 1a being smallest and the others being of progressively largerdiameter. 'Ihe ele ents 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d are mounted upon a rod 4 thathas projections 41, 42, 43 and '44 thereon. iThese projections are ofdifferent diameters, thd projection li being of smallest diameter andthe projections 42, 43 and 44 being of progressively larger diameter.The projection 4i is of a diameter slightly in excess of the diameter ofthe central opening i0 in theelement 1a and of slightly smaller diameterthan the diameter of the opening I Il in the element 1b. The projection42 is of slightly larger diameter than that of the opening I0 in theelement 1b and of less diameter than that of the opening l0 in theelement 1c. Likewise, the projection 43 is of a diameter slightlygreater than the diameter of the opening in the element 1c and less thanthe diameter of the corresponding opening in the element 1d. Theprojection M is of a diameter slightly greater than that of the openingI0 in the element 1d. As a result of this arrangement the loadsustaining elements 1d, 1c, 1b and 1a may be progressively strungupaaeassa on the rod 40 until they reach the projections 44, 4I, 42 and4|, respectively, which limits the extent to which they may be strung onthe rod. Thereafter the rod may be pushed or pulled into the element 2Afrom the right to the left, thereby forcing the load sustaining elementsinto the building element while maintaining the load sustaining elementsa fixed distance apart. When they are thus properly positioned the rod40 may be withdrawn to the right, thereby withdrawing it from thebuildingelement 2. Since the positions of the load sustaining elementswithin 'the build- .ing element 2 are known, they may be locked in placeby forming the depressions I2 previously referred to.

In Figure 'I there` is shown one method of positioning the loadsustaining elements 1 within the member 2. It is to be understood thatthe invention is not limited to this particular method as other methodsmay be used. For instance, the holes I in the load sustaining elements 1may be oval, rather than circular in shape, in which case the holes inall of the load sustaining elements 1 would be ofthe same size. Theprojections 4|, 42, 43 and 44 on the rod 40 would then be ovalprojections, all of the same size and slightly less than the size of theoval holes in the load sustaining elements 1. The rod may then beinserted through the holes I0, and by turning the rod through 90,theends of the major axes of the oval projections 4 |-44 would coincidewith the minor axes of the openings I0 and therefore'- the projections 4I-44 would abut against the respective elements 1er-1d and force thoseelements in the block 2 to the desired position. Thereafter, to removethe rod it would merely be necessary to turn it through approximately 90and then withdraw it. As another alternative, the openings I0 may all becircular and all of the same diameter. The rod 40 could bereplaced by aslotted tube. having a pronged rod therein which could be moved toproject through the slots into abutment with the elements 1, orretracted so as not to project through the slots, thus permitting theready insertion of the elements 1 into the block 2 in the same manner aswas described above in connection with the description of Figure 7.

Figure 8 shows a corner joint of a construction dierent from that ofFigure 6. This corner joint differs from that of Figure 6 only in thatthe sleeves 3 i-ii lof Figure 6 have been omitted. When this is done thecorner joint is connected to the rectangular building element by meansof couplings 3.

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view through a building elementcorresponding to the building element 2, but used at the cornices of thebuilding, or the like. This element is extruded in the same manner asbefore, and has a fiat bottom surface 50, 'fiat top surface 5i, flatrear surface 52, and an ornamented front surface 53. Stiffening elements55, which correspond to the load sustaining element 1 previouslydescribed, are mounted in this unit in the same manner as the loadsustaining elements 1 are mounted in the unit 2. 'I'hese stiffeningmembers 55 are of a cross sectional shape the same as that of theinterior of the cornice member of Figure 9 and help to retain its shape.

In compliance ywith the requirements of the patent statutes I have hereshown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention. It is,however, to be understood that the invention is not limited to theprecise construction here shown, the same being merely illustrative ofthe principles of the invention. v

What I consider new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A building block comprising a hollow tube of substantially uniformthickness, and a load sustaining element comprising a plate entirelywithin and extending transversely of the tube, the interior of the tubebeing of4 substantially uniform shape lengthwise thereof so that theload sustaining element may be shifted lengthwise of the tube to anydesired position therein, the thickness of the element in `a directionlengthwise of the tube being a fraction of half of the length of thetube, the upper longitudinally extending surface of the tube beingsubstantiallya counterpart of the lower longitudinally extending surfaceso that a plurality of l I. blocks may be laid one upon another.

2. A building block comprising a hollow tube of substantially uniformthickness, and a separate load sustaining element entirely within andextending transversely of the tube, the interior of the tube being ofsubstantially uniform shape lengthwise thereof so. that the loadsustaining eleme'nt may be shifted lengthwise of the tube to any desiredposition therein, and means locking the load sustaining element in vthetube, the upper longitudinally extending surface of the tube beingsubstantially a counterpart of the lower longitudinally extendingsurface so that a plurality of blocks may be laid one upon another.

3. A building block comprising a hollow tube, a load sustaining elementcomprising a stiftening plate member within and extending transverselyof the tube, said tube and said element being both made of anon-hygroscopic plastic be laid one upon another, a stiffening platefitting snugly within the tube. said plate having at least onedepression in a surface thereof that is in contact with the innersurface of the tube, and a protuberance formed on the inner surface ofthe tube and extending into the depression 7 for locking the stifeningplate 'in the tube.

5. A building element comprising a tube substantially rectangular incross section, a. plurality of spaced stiffening plates within the tube,said plates being separate from and fitting within the tube and saidtube being of uniform internal cross section so that the stiffeningplates may be located at any desired position therein,

and means for locking the plates in position r within the tube.

6. A building element comprising a tube adapted to be placed insuperimposed rela-tionship with other such tubes, a plurality of spacedstiifening plates within the tube, said plates being separate from andfitting within the tube and said tube being of uniform internal crosssection so that the stiffening plates may be located at any desiredposition therein, and means for locking the plates in position withinthe tube, said means comprising a plurality of spaced apartprotuberances formed on the inner surface of the tube and being inengagement with the stiffening plates.

'7. A building element comprising a tube of uniform cross sectionthroughout its length and having two opposite parallel substantiallyplanar faces each extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of thetube and having an interior opening of the same shape and sizethroughout the length of the tube, a plurality of spaced stiieningplates within the tube, said plates being separate from the tube so thatthey may b'e positioned therein any desired distance apart, and meansfor locking the plates in position within the tube.

a. A building block comprising n hollow tube having two oppositesubstantially parallel faces each of which is substantially parallel tothe 'longitudinal axis of the tube,'a, stiiIening plate -tltting snuglywithin the tube, said plate having at least one depression in a surfacethereof that is in contact with the inner surface of the tube, and aprotuberance formed on the inner surface of the tube and extending intothe depression for locking the stifening plate in the tube.

JAMES ROE.

